OFF THE WIRE
The Classic and Antique Motorcycle Show was held on or near the May 7th date in Snohomish for over 12 years and is now Cinco de Mayo.
After learning of the recent decision to cancel this year's motorcycle show in Everett that drew nearly 18,000 visitors last year, we wondered if this would spell an unofficial return to Snohomish.
According to ABATE's phone recording the Everett event is still on but reports say that's not so, our messages have gone unreturned to date. Our own search for motorcycle enthusiasts wanting to visit Snohomish during their first ever city sponsored Cinco de Mayo event came with mixed results.
John Peterson is a local rider that thinks the event should be in Snohomish and that the city should sponsor it instead of looking for something new. "It's great that Snohomish is trying to become more diverse by reaching out to the Mexican community but how about helping people that had events here first" asked Peterson. "It always seems to be easier to start something new before fixing something that's old" he said. He and riders he knows will be riding into Snohomish on May 7th to join in the Mexican holiday celebration that they feel is edging them out. Their first stop will be the Oxford Saloon and then Stewart's Place on First Street in downtown Snohomish.
Speaking with a rider just going into the Oxford about the coming Cinco de Mayo event and ABATE canceling of the Everett event, he only said three words "we'll be here" and went inside.
Some events don't mix well together as we saw in the Snohomish Wedding Tour 2009 the first year of that event and the first year of no motorcycle show. In what seemed to be retaliation for the high fees that prevented the show from continuing in Snohomish bikers from all over converged on small town Snohomish as an in-prompt-to gathering in defiance of public officials. Even the infamous outlaw biker gang, Banditos' were flying colors in support of the cause, which made for some tense situations for event goers.
Eric Carlson a visitor from Seattle said he wouldn't feel comfortable thinking there would be open drinking and partying without first knowing what sort of police presents was planned. "No one is talking about what standard is being used in providing event security, as they did for the motorcycle show. What about the Easter parade, wasn't there something about the last entry in last year's parade, if I remember correctly" Carlson said. "If this is an official City of Snohomish event, does that mean they supply the security" he asked.
The Snohomish Times has spoken with Chief John Turn and city staff several times in the past about securing events that occur inside the city limits. Each event must adhere to city policy and code, anything unusual or outside the parameters set by the city council will be reviewed accordingly. Our information on this year's event involving the city is that its a one-off event and next year's event they will be on-their-own.
There is no real way to predict whether or not bikers intend to make a stop in Snohomish on Saturday May 7th during Cinco de Mayo but the allure of a fiesta including tequila together in the same place and the cancelation of the Everett event make for some strong persuasive suggestions.
History:
Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday held on May 5 that commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday limited primarily to the Mexican state of Puebla. There is some limited recognition of the holiday in other parts of the country.
Although a limited holiday in Mexico, on June 7, 2005, the U.S. Congress issued a Concurrent Resolution calling on the President of the United States to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe Cinco de Mayo with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
